Melissa Gomez is the Project Director for Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking (PACT) at CFPIC, facilitating a statewide model of cross-coordination to strengthen child welfare programs who serve young people at risk of or experiencing human trafficking.  She has contributed 20 years of service to the anti-trafficking movement and her international and local leadership has been instrumental in establishing multi-disciplinary coalitions and coordinating comprehensive care to survivors of both labor and sex trafficking in Europe and California.  As the former Chair of the Central Valley Freedom Coalition and Program Manager of Fresno’s Central Valley Against Human Trafficking, she served as regional liaison to facilitate 24-7 trauma response in partnership with Polaris’ National Human Trafficking Hotline. Melissa is dedicated to the advancement and integration of diverse voices to pioneer systemic change and co-create pathways of empowerment. Melissa resides in the ancestral land of the Miwok and Yokuts (the Central San Joaquin Valley – Ripon, CA).  Melissa and her family enjoy culinary experiences, traveling to new places and on time off you’ll find her at the beach or hiking in the forest.